Lighter



l. FLORMAN July 7, 1942.

LIGHTER Filed March 31, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 10w 6 Fla/mung,

I. FLORMAN July 7, 1942.

LIGHTER Filed March 31, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #rwzva FLORMAIV,

Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LIGHTER Irving Flor-man, New York, N. Y. Application March 31, 1942, Serial No. 437,061

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lighters and especially to table lighters of the pyrophoric type. It presents an improvement on the lighter described in my prior application S. N. 431,572, filed February 19, 1942. The primary object of the invention is to provide a lighter of this type which is convenient and easy to operate and which is fully efiective.

In the past, most types of table lighters, that is lighters formed in two parts consisting of a base and a torch member removably mounted in the base, have operated through some cooperation between the base and the torch. In other words, either the lighter was operated during removal of the torch, which required a heavy base, or the holding of the base with one hand; or the lighter after removal from the base has required some sort of contact with a cooperating part on the base to cause it to ignite. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a base type lighter in which the torch member is operative when removed from the base without any cooperation with the base, and entirely independently thereof; although the torch may be extinguished by returning it to its position in the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a torch type of mechanism in which the lighter body is held between the second and third fingers and the lighting is caused by pressure of the thumb. More particularly, the invention contemplates a lighter construction having an elongated body adapted to be engaged between the second and third fingers and provided with a flange forming an abutment for engagement by these fingers, with a button on the opposite side of the flange engageable by the thumb and connected to the lighting mechanism so as to operate the lighter when depressed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a lighter of this kind a simple mechanism controlled by the thumb button which creates a strong spark capable of igniting the wick. More especially, the invention contemplates a pawl connection between a bar connected to the button and the sparking wheel, with a special construction for maintaining the bar in proper position after each operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more full from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation, with parts broken away, a lighter embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows in side elevation the torch member in operated position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lighting mechanism of the torch member.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line l4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the torch with the bottom removed.

The. base of the lighter may be any suitable size and shape, and it is shown in the drawings as an ornamental glass bottle 2. This cap is provided with a central opening forming an entrance to a metal tube 6 which extends inwardly into the base 2. It should be understood however that any type of base having an opening into a chamber or Well therein would come within the contemplation of the invention.

The torch member has a body composed of a tube 8 closed by a wall In at one end. The other end is provided with an external thread l2. In the neighborhood of but spaced from I; this second end is a transverse plate member I4.

This plate member however does not entirely close the casing, but provides an abutment for retaining the cotton wadding l6 for holding fuel. Fuel may be supplied to the wadding by pouring it into the end of the casing 8 past the Wall I4;

Mounted on the closed end In of the casing are upstanding cars 29. Extending through the top Wall I l) is a wick tube 22 in which is mounted a suitable wick 24 which extends downwardly into the cotton Hi to receive fuel therefrom. Likewise extending through wall Ill, and at its other end through wall I4, is a flint tube 26 closed at its inner end by a threaded plug 28 (I and containing a coil spring 30 pressing outwardly a flint 32. Flint 32 engages the surface of a flint wheel 34 rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 in the ears 2!]. Arranged beside and rigid with the flint wheel 34 is a ratchet wheel 38.

Slidably mounted in a tube or bore 54 and passing through the top wall it and also the wall !4, is a bar or rod 55 of somewhat smaller size than the tube I. At the end opposite the lighting mechanism this rod carries a transversely extending arm 58 provided with a centering pin fill. A coil spring 62 engaged between arm 58 and plate I4 urges rod 56 away from the lighting mechanism (downwardly in Fig. 3). Centering pin 60 engages in a conical base portion 64 of a pin or button 66 slidable in a closure 68 which is threaded on the thread [2 and thus closes the body 8. At its upper end in Fig. 3, rod 56 has a series of pawl teeth which engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 38.

Bar 56 is provided in its rear face, opposite the teeth ID, with a notch 72. A bowed leaf spring 14 has its ends within this notch and its center portion resting against the back of bore 54.

The mechanism thus described operates as follows:

When the torch is within the base in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is removed by sliding the first and second fingers beneath the flange 69 of body 68. It is then turned over to the position shown in Fig, 2, with the thumb engaging and pushing upwardly on button 66. This pushes upwardly on rod 56. Pawl bar 56 engages ratchet wheel 38, and as the button 66 is advanced the flint wheel 34 is turned clockwise in Fig. 3 and throws a spark from the flint onto the wick, thus igniting the wick.

When the pressure of the thrunb is released, spring 62 pushes the bar 58 downward. In this movement, the teeth 18 slip over the teeth of ratchet wheel 33, this being permitted by the play of the rod in the bore, against the action of spring 14. When the rod is again moved upward, the same operation will of course be repeated.

To extinguish the torch, it is only necessary to restore it to the base 2, from which it can readily be removed for a further operation.

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby, except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lighter comprising an elongated casing having a fuel reservoir therein and having a lighting end and a handle end, said casing having a portion at the handle end of a size to be grasped between two adjacent fingers and an enlarged part to form an abutment for the fingers, a wick extending from within the fuel reservoir through the lighting end of the casing, a flint wheel rotatably mounted upon the lighting end exteriorly of the casing, a flint, means to hold said flint against the wheel, an elongated passageway of substantially uniform cross-section extending longitudinally through said casing from end to end thereof and closed on all sides, a unitary rod member slidably mounted within said passageway and extending substantially from one end of the casing to the other, one end of said rod member adapted to project beyond the lighting end of the casing, means operatively connecting said projecting end of the rod to said flint wheel, and means at the handle end of the casing operatively connected with said rod and readily engageable for actuation by the thumb when the two adjacent fingers grip the handle portion, and means for normally holding the unitary rod member in place but detachable to permit the withdrawal of said member through said handle end.

2. A lighter comprising an elongated casing having a fuel reservoir therein, said casing having a lighting end and a handle end, a wick extending from said fuel reservoir through said lighting end, igniting mechanism mounted on the exterior of the casing upon the lighting end and adjacent said wick, said igniting mechanism including a flint wheel, an elongated passageway extending longitudinally of said casing from end to end thereof; a unitary operating member comprising a rod slidably mounted within said passageway and extending substantially from one end of the casing to the other, one end of said rod adapted to project beyond the lighting end of the casing, and means operatively connecting said projecting end of the rod to said flint wheel, and a spring carried by and movable with said rod, bearing against the wall of said passageway and urging said rod toward said wheel whereby the rod is adapted to rotate the wheel when moved in the opposite direction said unitary operating member being removable as a unit from the casing in dismantling the lighter and manually operable means at the handle end of said casing operatively connected to the rod to slide the same to operate the lighting mechanism to ignite the wick.

3. A lighter comprising an elongated casing having a fuel reservoir therein, said casing having a lighting end and a handle end, a wick extending from said fuel reservoir through said lighting end, igniting mechanism mounted on the exterior of the casing upon the lighting end and adjacent said wick, said igniting mechanism including a flint wheel, a flint, and means to press the flint against the wheel, and elongated passageway extending longitudinally of said casing from end to end thereof; a unitary operating member comprising a rod slidably mounted within said passageway and extending substantially from one end of the casing to the other, one end of said rod adapted to project beyond the lighting end of the casing, and means operatively connecting said projecting end of the rod to said flint wheel, and a spring carried by and movable with said rod, bearing against the wall of said passageway and urging said rod toward said wheel whereby the rod is adapted to rotate the wheel when it is moved in one direction and to slide past said wheel when moved in the opposite direction said unitary operating member being removable as a unit from the casing for dismantling the lighter, manually operable means at the handle end of said casing operatively connected to the rod to slide the same to operate the lighting mechanism to ignite the wick and means for normally holding the unitary operating member in place but detachable to permit the withdrawal of said member through said handle end.

4. A lighter comprising an elongated casing having a fuel reservoir therein, said casing having a lighting end and a handle end, a wick extending from said fuel reservoir through said lighting end, igniting mechanism mounted on the exterior of the casing upon the lighting end and adjacent said wick, said igniting mechanism including a flint wheel, a flint, and means to press the flint against the wheel, an elongated passageway extending longitudinally of said casing from end to end thereof, a rod slidably mounted within said passageway and extending substantially from one end of the casing to the other, one end of said rod adapted to project beyond the lighting end of the casing, and means operatively connecting said projecting end of the rod to said flint wheel, said means including ratchet teeth on the projecting end of said rod and cooperating ratchet means on said flint Wheel, the width of the passageway in the direction of said wheel being greater than that of said rod by an amount approximately equal to the depth of said teeth, a cut-away portion on said rod on the side opposite said wheel, a spring set into said cut-away portion and bearing against the wall of said passageway, whereby said spring is carried by said rod and resiliently urges it toward said wheel so that the rod may turn the wheel when moved in one direction and slide idly past the wheel when moved in the other direction, and manually operable means at the other end of the casing operatively connected to the rod to slide the same to operate the lighting mechanism to ignite the wick.

5. A lighter combination comprising a base with a well therein, a torch comprising an elongated casing having a fuel reservoir therein, said casing having a lighting end and a handle end, a wick extending from said fuel reservoir through said lighting end, igniting mechanism mounted on the exterior of the casing upon the lighting end and adjacent said wick, said igniting mechanism including a flint wheel, a flint, and means to press the flint against the wheel, an elongated passageway extending longitudinally of said casing from end to end thereof, a rod slidably mounted within said passageway and extending substantially from one end of the casing to the other, one end of said rod adapted to project beyond the lighting end of the casing, and means operatively connecting said projecting end of the rod to said flint wheel, and a spring carried by and movable with said rod, bearing against the wall of said passageway and urging said rod toward said wheel whereby the rod is adapted to rotate the wheel when it is moved in one direction and to slide past said wheel when moved in the opposite direction, and manually operable means at the handle end of said casing operatively connected to the rod to slide the same to operate the lighting mechanism to ignite the wick, said rod, said wick, and said flint devices being the only projecting parts at the lighting end of said casing, and means enabling the withdrawal of said rod through the passageway and from the handle end of the casing, whereby said Wheel may be readily and entirely freed from all operative connections, said well functioning as the extinguishing means for the torch when the lighter is inserted therein.

6. A lighter combination comprising a base having a well therein, a torch comprising a casing having a lighting end and a handle end, a fuel reservoir in said torch casing, a wick connected with the reservoir and projecting through the casing at said lighting end, a flint and flint wheel for igniting said wick projecting from said lighting end of the casing, said casing being of substantially the same diameter throughout its length with the exception of a knob forming the handle end of the torch, the greater portion of the torch being of a diameter smaller than that of the well and the knob being of a greater diameter and serving as an abutment to maintain only the said knob outside of the well in said base when the torch is not in use, said knob be-,

ing adapted to be grasped between two adjacent fingers for removing and actuating the torch, and provided with a button element adapted to be conveniently moved by the thumb when so held, and a rod extending through substantially the entire length of said casing for operatively connecting said button with said flint wheel for igniting the torch.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

